| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Do you think that the translation industry is growing despite the global financial crisis? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you think that the translation industry is growing despite the global financial crisis?".
This poll was originally submitted by Karen Sughyan. View the poll results »
| | | | GeoS
Local time: 00:56
Greek to English
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| I voted yes... | Nov 18, 2010 |
...because at least in Greece I've noticed that during this crisis many people (unfortunately many students lacking skill, talent and sometimes knowledge) that know a second language, turn to translation in order to earn additional income...
Some of them do have what it takes but many of them don't. They offer very low prices (imo often analogous to the quality of their work) and cause significant issues to professionals, as customers use the argument "I've had an offer for that amount..."... See more ...because at least in Greece I've noticed that during this crisis many people (unfortunately many students lacking skill, talent and sometimes knowledge) that know a second language, turn to translation in order to earn additional income...
Some of them do have what it takes but many of them don't. They offer very low prices (imo often analogous to the quality of their work) and cause significant issues to professionals, as customers use the argument "I've had an offer for that amount...".
Don't know whether you have noticed similar cases, but more and more often I receive calls to "review/edit new partners who have just started in this industry..." and I find myself trying to best word an email explaining to customers that the translation given is at least unacceptable and "beyond repair".
I'm not against people trying their chances but, when one is to undertake a project, he/she must have the nerve to say "I can't do that..." rather than providing a result that harms their own reputation, their customer, and of course, the poor soul that has to review-edit their work. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Samir Sami
Qatar
Local time: 00:56
Arabic to English
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As far as my native language is concerned, the answer is a definite 'Yes.' Yet I can see that it is partly a growth directed more towards freelancing than being B2B (translation).
Locally, I can see that the volume of translation is growing, with more and more companies getting back to track, pushed by optimistic forecasts published in the US and other parts of the world hit by the crisis.
However, there is one major issue I'd like to note, and perhaps colleagues may... See more As far as my native language is concerned, the answer is a definite 'Yes.' Yet I can see that it is partly a growth directed more towards freelancing than being B2B (translation).
Locally, I can see that the volume of translation is growing, with more and more companies getting back to track, pushed by optimistic forecasts published in the US and other parts of the world hit by the crisis.
However, there is one major issue I'd like to note, and perhaps colleagues may share the same view (concern), which is the increasing flow of translation requests coming from the (non-native) China and India. This might be termed as growth, yet on the negative side. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | And mutating. | Nov 18, 2010 |
Noni
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Michael Harris 
Germany
Local time: 23:56
Member (2006)
German to English
| | Is there a global crisis? | Nov 18, 2010 |
I see many local crises everywhere on the globe. Each one has its own causes and effects. Most countries find a solution in foreign trade, which nurtures the translation industry.
| | | | Patricia Charnet
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:56
Member (2009)
English to French
I think it is increasing in volume and numbers
the crisis may temporarily halt or slow some flows of communication in some industries, but overall I think that the industry will keep growing for years to come, and with the need for more and more communication. In my humble opinion, English remains the dominant language, its share will keep growing albeit at a smaller pace, but other languages are growing faster because they've got some catching up to do so the out of English may gro... See more I think it is increasing in volume and numbers
the crisis may temporarily halt or slow some flows of communication in some industries, but overall I think that the industry will keep growing for years to come, and with the need for more and more communication. In my humble opinion, English remains the dominant language, its share will keep growing albeit at a smaller pace, but other languages are growing faster because they've got some catching up to do so the out of English may grow faster than into English although this may be debatable.
My belief is that there should be more work for a long time. Plenty for everybody. I also think that gradually and with better communication forums (like this forum) translators will be better educated and better prepared for doing professional assignments, and that should remedy to the translation industry be given more added value and recognition as a crucial industry in the communication sector.
Hopefully, we should bear the crisis much better than other industries, particularly with outsourcing ▲ Collapse
| | | | Elías Sauza
Mexico
Local time: 15:56
Member (2002)
English to Spanish
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The translation industry grows just as any other industry as the world population and globalization grows. What I perceive is that the middle man is trying to makes believe that there is a crisis from which the translation industry cannot recover itself, and take advantage of the situation to cannibalize the market.
Greetings,
Elías
[Edited at 2010-11-18 15:23 GMT]
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| Expand and prosper | Nov 18, 2010 |
Many times, a crfisis will force people to look elsewhere for income and profits and this will often mean penetrating new markets. The cost of translating is often a minor expense when faced with local austerity and overseas growth. Globalisation may be the mother of all evils for some but the chance to grow for many, many more
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Because at least in the country where I am living (Spain), a big part of the workflow that formerly was coming is now being sent to Latinamerica as translations rates are very low there. Then, Spanish translators living in Spain are entrusted with the "adaptation" of the Latinamerican translation to Peninsular Spanish (and that can be a really hard work!), and they must charge the job as "revision" instead of "translation". My main translation incomes come from a company which spezializes in com... See more Because at least in the country where I am living (Spain), a big part of the workflow that formerly was coming is now being sent to Latinamerica as translations rates are very low there. Then, Spanish translators living in Spain are entrusted with the "adaptation" of the Latinamerican translation to Peninsular Spanish (and that can be a really hard work!), and they must charge the job as "revision" instead of "translation". My main translation incomes come from a company which spezializes in computer books and manuals and during this year I have received less translation jobs than in previous years, and the same thing happened to some people I know who work for the same company (instead of translating we are asked to retouch images, check translated texts or do page makeup). Maybe it is something which is just happening to me, but well, I don't think so. ▲ Collapse
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 23:56
Spanish to English
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It is changing. I have been OK for work this year, but a friend of mine who translates German to English is getting a lot less of the large volumes of work he used to, and says his clients are taking longer and longer to pay. His opinion is that as Google and similar tools get better, we will all have a tougher time finding work, which may be true.
The intrusion by tyros/non natives is indeed damaging the status quo, but as long as the clients are happy I suppose it's OK for them -... See more It is changing. I have been OK for work this year, but a friend of mine who translates German to English is getting a lot less of the large volumes of work he used to, and says his clients are taking longer and longer to pay. His opinion is that as Google and similar tools get better, we will all have a tougher time finding work, which may be true.
The intrusion by tyros/non natives is indeed damaging the status quo, but as long as the clients are happy I suppose it's OK for them - although in the end we all get tarred with the same brush (cheap and shoddy). In the past hour I've had to look up a few websites of important quasi-official bodies and not one of them has had an error-free, or even halfway decent English translation.
GeoS wrote:
... I find myself trying to best word an email explaining to customers that the translation given is at least unacceptable and "beyond repair".
I actually have to get someone else to do my emails for me in these situations, because I have little patience with the scenario and get so angry and resentful I find it difficult to euphemise, and have to keep reminding myself that the clients don't realise it is a false economy, and that they don't know they are getting a pig in a poke, or that it can take longer to "revise" a bad translation than to do it from scratch... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Chun Un
Macau
Member (2007)
English to Chinese
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Sam21 wrote:
However, there is one major issue I'd like to note, and perhaps colleagues may share the same view (concern), which is the increasing flow of translation requests coming from the (non-native) China and India. This might be termed as growth, yet on the negative side.
I am not sure I understand what you are trying to say... Requests with low rates? What do you mean by 'non-native'?
[Edited at 2010-11-19 01:18 GMT]
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because growing shoub also intended as better rates, better terms,
Maybe there is a higher demand, but the conditions have become worse, some agencies send emails telling they pay 60 days after the invoice instead of 30 for examples, other reduce the rates.
This is not growth.
| | | | m_temmer
Local time: 15:56
English to Dutch
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The translation market is definitely growing. The European Commission made a very interesting study about that recently, if I'm not mistaken.
However, who is benefiting from the growth, that's a different story. I have the impression that many freelance translators aren't really able to arm themselves against the agressive management techniques the agencies are applying more and more.
People all too easily forget that those agencies don't exist without us. You shouldn't... See more The translation market is definitely growing. The European Commission made a very interesting study about that recently, if I'm not mistaken.
However, who is benefiting from the growth, that's a different story. I have the impression that many freelance translators aren't really able to arm themselves against the agressive management techniques the agencies are applying more and more.
People all too easily forget that those agencies don't exist without us. You shouldn't be afraid of saying no! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | There are agencies and agencies | Nov 20, 2010 |
Gianluca Marras wrote:
because growing shoub also intended as better rates, better terms,
Maybe there is a higher demand, but the conditions have become worse, some agencies send emails telling they pay 60 days after the invoice instead of 30 for examples, other reduce the rates.
This is not growth.
Many 'pirate' agencies are using the crisis in a couple of American banks over five year ago to increase their margin.
Serious agencies do not use this false excuse.
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